Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Two By Two, by Tim Susman

Lightspeed Magazine, June 2015; 6,100 words
Rating: 5, Award-worthy

The blight destroyed almost all plant life, and Daniel and Vijay are seeking shelter with Daniel's family in Texas who may have a way out.

This story is NOT available for free online; you have to buy the issue to read it.


Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

[Ed. Note: As a mixed-race gay couple, one of whom grew up in the South, we cannot claim to be unbiased about this story.]

Pro: It's extremely realistic about how Fundamentalist, Southern families deal with gay family members. There is enormous tension once the two men enter the CSA, because we keep expecting someone to betray them. The decision to stay behind feels (to us) very much the right one, and it even ends on a hopeful note.

Con: It's hard to imagine a blight that killed all plant life--even algae--but left animal life untouched.

1 comment (may contain spoilers):

  1. I purchased this copy of Lightspeed.

    It is a good story. I'd rate it a 4 to 5 myself. The author seem to be trying too hard with a few sentences, but it was a good read. It showed a couple devoted to each other.

    Scarily plausible too. Not the blight, but the political situation.

    I just wish Vijay had been portrayed better as a scientist or as someone with a strong background in science.

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